A Sunday Mirror investigation has revealed MPs have claimed for gig tickets, helicopter rides and even sporting events despite their £74,000 salaries

Grasping MPs enjoyed nearly £800,000 in freebies over the last year – despite a huge salary increase to £74,000.

And as they prepare to trouser another £1,000 on their annual pay, a Sunday Mirror investigation can reveal that many are enjoying wining, dining and jet-setting beyond the wildest dreams of most of their constituents.

While the junkets, benefits and perks did not break any rules, campaigners warned it could increase voters’ fears their elected representatives are listening to wealthy donors instead of them.

Alexandra Runswick, director of campaigning group Unlock Democracy, said: “Corporate hospitality is a well-known tactic for big business to buy access and influence.

“The public already feel that MPs are remote from voters, that they listen to big business and party donors rather than their constituents.

Elsewhere more than £80,000 was spent on entertaining MPs at sporting events – while constituents stayed away, unable to afford rising ticket prices.

This includes £42,000 on ferrying politicians to last year’s Rugby World Cup tournament held in Britain, while the ticket-buying public could expect to pay up to hundreds of pounds for a seat in the stands.

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Flying high: Chancellor George Osborne was flown to a dinner by helicopter

Miss Runswick added: “Supposedly we’re all in this together but that’s not the message we get from the free perks MPs are given.”

Our probe reveals the Premier League and donors including bookies Betfair, Ladbrokes and Coral lavished £85,673 on taking MPs to sporting events since last year.

It came before thousands of Liverpool FC fans staged a mass walkout at last Saturday’s draw with Sunderland at Anfield in protest at plans to price top tickets at £77 – forcing bosses to back down.

More than half a million pounds was spent by donors on trips and accommodation outside the UK for MPs, bringing the total bill for perks to £775,660.70 as of February 8 – the last time the register was updated.

The £550,831 travel bill was not paid for by the taxpayer, and most involved official Parliamentary business.

But 14 Tories took their spouses on trips abroad worth £40,000 – including an £8,000 business junket to Abu Dhabi and fact-finding missions to Israel worth up to £3,700.

Other goodies handed out included a three-litre bottle of 60-year-old port given to Tory Tim Loughton for a constituency fundraiser last March.

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William Hague: Signed avaluable auction item

The £1,800 jeroboam of 1952 Graham’s Tawny Port, released to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012, was sold off to help his East Worthing and Shoreham fighting fund and declared on the register of members’ interests in May.

It was signed by Tory grandees including William Hague and David Cameron , and auctioned at an event which featured entertainment from cricket commentator Henry Blofeld.

Former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas said: “MPs are some of the best-paid people in Britain and, though some of us chose to give away recent pay rises, the majority have seen pay packets increase in recent years.

"While public sector pay rises are held at just one per cent it is unacceptable thatMPs continue to receive such boosts in their income.

“It’s clear that the system needs rethinking. For a start, a lobbying register should be introduced in Parliament – so people can see exactly which companies and campaigns are meeting with MPs and trying to influence their views.”

All 650 MPs must register any gifts worth more than one per cent of their annual salary.

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Anger: Caroline Lucas says MPs are some of the best paid people in the UK

Last year’s 10 per cent increase from £67,060 to £74,000pa means gifts under £740 do not have to be declared. This week another rise was confirmed, bringing basic wages to £74,962 a year.

None who made declarations have broken Parliamentary rules, and many recorded gifts they were not required to.

Our probe revealed at least 136 MPs, or about a fifth of the Commons, employ a family member in their office – up 11 since last June. The practice is banned in the EU Parliament but allowed here.

Meanwhile MPs made at least £5.25million in second jobs outside their Commons duties, with many exploiting their ties to big business to secure top executive and consultancy roles.

Jonathan Isaby of the TaxPayers’ Alliance said: “If details are fully declared in the register of interest the public can see what their MP gets up to and voice their displeasure at the ballot box if they are unhappy.

"What taxpayers do not want is a return to the bad old days when Parliament kept its secrets hidden.”

Jewels for Miller

Getty Images

Expenses row: Maria Miller was forced to resign over claims about her expenses

Consultation work for the same firm earned Mr Berry £6,250 for 80 hours. The Sunday Mirror asked him if he thought it appropriate to accept hospitality from the same firm that paid him for consultancy work.

But none of the MPs involved in hosting the party replied to our request for comment.

Legal aid for me only

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Bills paid: Robert Halfon had voted to cut legal aid

Having previously voted to cut legal aid, Tory deputy chairman Robert Halfon had his lawyer’s bills paid in the Mark Clarke bullying fiasco.

He registered £6,043 in free legal assistance from two firms on December 18.

The register of interests shows £4,200 was from Clerewell Ltd, run by Sir Michael Heller, who has donated at least £100,000 to the Tories.

Another £1,843 was given by Meller Designs, owned by Tory donor David Meller, who was made a non-executive director at the Department for Education in 2013.

Mr Halfon’s office said: “The legal advice was about claims in connection with the ‘Mark Clarke affair,’” but would not make any further comment.

Middle East affairs

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Trip: Jack Lopresti went to Bahrain with his lover

Tory Jack Lopresti joined a £4,753-a-head trip to Bahrain alongside lover Andrea Jenkyns a month after their affair emerged.

The Conservative Middle East Council delegation was paid for by the state’s foreign affairs ministry – though the pair are not members of the Council.

Neither would confirm the trip’s itinerary, or whether they shared accommodation.

Mr Lopresti said his visit centred around the Bahraini Airshow, adding: “I specialise in defence, security and aviation and so it’s relevant.”

Miss Jenkyns said she was there “with a dossier of businesses who want to trade with the Middle East”.

£1.2k footie seats

Fantastic footie: Chris Heaton-Harris had very nice footie tickets

Tory Chris Heaton Harris has taken £1,200 worth of free tickets, which included one pair valued at £1,020 for an Arsenal v Everton game registered in October last year.

Three more modestly priced tickets for Chelsea v Watford were also registered, at £135.

All the tickets were paid for by the Premier League.

Mr Heaton-Harris did not respond to the Sunday Mirror’s request for comment.

£3k festival tickets for Tory Gove

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Gig delight: Justice Secretary Michael Gove

As well as lifetime membership of the exclusive Carlton Club in central London, Justice Secretary Michael Gove was treated to five tickets to Capital FM’s Summertime Ball, worth £3,000, by Global Radio.

The Tory bigwig’s attendance at the pop music bash came six months after heads turned during a Cabinet meeting when a Beyonce track started blasting out of his smart watch.

The self-confessed rap music fan had the chance to take in artists including Rita Ora, Flo Rida, Olly Murs and Little Mix at the mini-festival at Wembley Stadium, west London, and was also treated to £500 worth of tickets to an Arsenal game last year.

Mr Gove did not respond to the Sunday Mirror’s request for comment.

Winning the 'Pools

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Winning big: Charlotte Leslie MP went to Anfield

Amid protests by Liverpool FC fans at the prospect of rising prices, two MPs got £2,400 worth of free tickets and hospitality.

Tory MP for Bristol North West Charlotte Leslie got four tickets worth £1,680 from the Premier League for the game fans walked out of at Anfield last week.

Labour’s Steve Rotheram got two worth £700 for the North West Derby between Man Utd and Liverpool at Anfield.

Ms Leslie did not respond to a request for a comment. Mr Rotheram, a local MP and Anfield season ticket holder, said he used the chance to lobby the Premier League for fairer ticket prices.

The ace of clubs

Flying Colours Photography

Mark Field: He really is the ace of clubs

Tory Mark Field holds nearly £3,000 worth of free annual memberships at the Carlton Club and the RAC, where he can rub shoulders with society’s elite. He did not respond to a request for comment.

Fellow Tory James Heappey holds membership of the Sloane Club, worth nearly £2,000 a year. He said all of his interests were registered appropriately.

Get shot of 'em

Get shot: Five Tory MPs went on a luxury shooting trip

Five Tory MPs enjoyed a day’s shooting and a night’s stay at a plush Staffordshire hotel totalling £3,860 just before Christmas.

The £772-a-head bill for Graham Brady, Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Sir Edward Garnier, Mark Spencer, and Bill Wiggin was picked up by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, which has lobbied against bans on hunting with dogs.

Tory Bernard Jenkin was gifted a day’s shooting worth £1,500 by a private donor. None responded to requests for comment.

Speaker served £11k

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Serving well: John Bercow managed 16 events

In the past year £11,105 was spent on taking Commons Speaker John Bercow to 16 events including tennis matches at Wimbledon.

Despite his salary of nearly £150,000 the All England Club soaked up the £3,200 cost of seats in the Royal Box and hospitality at last year’s championships.

Tickets to last year’s FA Cup final and hundreds of pounds’ worth of seats at Arsenal games were also gifted to the Tory.

A constituency spokesman said: “Mr Bercow is a tennis and football fan, and watches matches live when he has the opportunity.

“All hospitality is declared to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.”

Paris trip with wife

Old romantic: Dominic Grieve took his wife to Paris

Just before Valentine’s Day last year the Register of Members’ Interests shows then-Attorney General Dominic Grieve took his wife on a paid-for trip to Paris, from February 6 to 8.

The £750 tab included return Eurostar train travel and two nights’ accommodation, all paid for by European Study Tours and the Erasmus Educational Society.

The purpose of the trip was to speak at the Your Future in Europe conference.

The Sunday Mirror asked Mr Grieve why it was necessary to spend two nights in a hotel with his wife, rather than immediately return on the train.

We received no response.

Leagues ahead

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Peter Bone: The MP attended three American Football games

Unlikely American Football fan Peter Bone was given a £235 helmet and £65 jersey when he went to an £80 dinner at an NFL game at Wembley stadium last year.

He attended three games. Each would have cost him £298 if he had bought tickets.

The Tory also got £510 worth of tickets to an Arsenal v Everton game. He did not respond to a request for comment.

The full list

Nigel Adams £1,117.00 In my capacity as Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Music, I received two tickets and accommodation at Glastonbury music festival to the value of £1,117.48

Nigel Adams £10,000.00 sponsorship of a private party for Members of Parliament that I co-hosted with three other MPs;value £10,000

Heidi Allen £600.00 four tickets to the International Air Tattoo;total value £600

Edward Argar £909.00 guest at Carlton Club Political Dinner;value £909.09

Chris Bryant £730.00 two tickets with dinner for the England v Australia match, 3 October 2015 (approximate value £730) provided to me as Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

Chris Bryant

Richard Burden £800.00 two passes to paddock areas of British Touring Car Championship 2015 rounds. two passes to paddock areas of British Touring Car Championship 2015 rounds. The value of these passes on the open market is approx. £800.

Richard Burden £1,088.00 two passes and hospitality for British Grand Prix at Silverstone, 5 July 2015, value £1,088.

Dr Th�r�se Coffey £1,375.00 a ticket, including hospitality, to a rugby match on 26 September 2015;value �1,375 plus VAT

Damian Collins £1,038.00 I am Vice Chairman of the APPG for the Performers' Alliance and received two tickets to the Glastonbury Festival, including hospitality and accommodation;total value 1,038.32

Damian Collins £3,300.00 as a member of the select committee for Culture, Media and Sport I accepted two tickets including hospitality to the England versus Wales Rugby World Cup match at Twickenham;total value 3,300

Drew Hendry £585.00 Admission to the festival for myself, my wife and family, value £585.12. I spoke as an invited participant in a panel debate at the festival.

Dame Margaret Hodge £7,500.00 between 26 October 2015 and 29 April 2016, a research assistant, helping with a constituency research project and fact checking for a book; £7,500 over 26 weeks.

Mrs Sharon Hodgson £467.00 In my capacity as Chair of the All-Party School Food Group, provision of overnight accommodation, including meal, for me and a member of my staff attending LACA conference in Birmingham, 9-10 July 2015; total cost £467.12

Amanda Milling £10,000.00 sponsorship of a private party for Members of Parliament that I co-hosted with three other MPs; value £10,000

Greg Mulholland 2 tickets for Football Championship playoff final and hospitality at Wembley Stadium on 25 May 2015 2 tickets for Football Championship playoff final and hospitality at Wembley Stadium on 25 May 2015

Mike Penning £500.00 Tickets and hospitality for two people at Twickenham Rugby Stadium on Saturday 3r October, estimated value of £500

Sir Eric Pickles £1,500.00 hospitality for a three day business conference, Midlands Industrial Council, Southampton QE2 from 13 June 2015 for myself and my wife;value 1,500 (Updated 14 July 2015)

Lucy Powell £875.00 two tickets to a match during the Rugby World Cup in my capacity as local MP; £875 per ticket (including hospitality), total £1,750

Christina Rees £695.00 Ticket for rugby match, value £695

Mr Laurence Robertson £300.00 hospitality for my wife and me to the value of £300, received at Sandown Racecourse on 4 July 2015

Mr Laurence Robertson £400.00 hospitality to the value of 400 for me and my wife, received at Chepstow Racecourse on 27 December 2014

Mr Laurence Robertson £800.00 hospitality to the value of 800 for me and my wife on 10 March 2015

Steve Rotheram £700.00 two tickets and hospitality to the Liverpool FC/Manchester United FC game at Anfield on 17 January 2016 to the value of £700.

Steve Rotheram £800.00 two tickets for lunch and racing at Aintree Racecourse on 10 April 2015; total estimated value £800

Alex Salmond £260.00 four night's accommodation including meals, for my wife and myself, whilst I attended and participated in the Prostate Cancer UK Scottish Seniors Golf Open Tournament. Approximate value £260 per night; total £1,040. There was no entry fee as I was a competitor.